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About this project

Targeted began the fall of 2010. I set out to collect as many portraits of gay men as I
possibly could. Eight months
later, I have done the footwork, but I am not finished. To complete this project, I plan to use
military grade weapons to shoot at each man’s portrait. This final violent end is three fold: a critique on current American anti-queer politics, showing there is
no physical mark denoting a gay man, and an example proving gay men’s ability
to be just as heroic as their heterosexual counterparts.

Throughout
history, queer men stood as warriors and powerful defenders,
pillars among the community and government. With the assemblage of a diverse body of unknown gay men I have extended this
lineage symbolicly: an
'army' going to battle for their rights.

In George Moses Book, The Image of Man, he
discusses the rites boys must undergo on the path to manhood. Proving
yourself through physical strength. American gun culture has remained a
breeding ground to collectively symbolize these concepts: manhood and strength.

My firing of weapons at the photographs addresses the social and political turmoil queer peoples are facing in America today while simultaneously proving queer men are just as
heroic as the ideal straight stereotype. Myself and the participants being queer challenges the heteronormative masculine construction that only one type of boy can become a man.

Funding from Kickstarter
will help in the following areas to achieve what I see as the final
presentation of this project.

-Dry mounting and framing of all the prints.

-Marksmanship classes to handle the
weapons correctly, and accurately. I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A GUN.

-The rental of video equipment, so I am able to
document and show my probably humorous route into manhood by using guns.

-Lastly, your contribution will help pay for the cable
suspension system needed to safely display the photographs so future viewers like
yourself are able to address this work from a complete 360 point of view as
well as walk through the 11 rows like hall ways.

-your support will allow this project to continue!

FAQ

Have a question?
If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.

Rewards

Pledge $10 or more

You will receive a hand written thank you note on a individualized postcard that will have an image of one man from Targeted, and video updates.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2012

You selected

Pledge $20 or more

34 backers

The above and a poster designed especially for this project.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2012

You selected

Pledge $40 or more

19 backers

The above and a zine with all 106 portraits signed and numbered.

Estimated delivery:Dec 2011

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

7 backers
Limited (43 left of 50)

The above and one copy of a limited addition zine developed from all the source materials, images, and text I have used to complete this project

Estimated delivery:Mar 2012

You selected

Pledge $150 or more

6 backers
Limited (19 left of 25)

You will receive a hand written thank you note on a individualized postcard that will have an image of one man from Targeted, video updates, and a small artist book of the final shot then re-shot portraits.

Estimated delivery:Mar 2012

You selected

Pledge $250 or more

3 backers
Limited (7 left of 10)

You will receive a hand written thank you note on a individualized postcard that will have an image of one man from Targeted, the zine, and a 8x10 inch edition print of a portrait of myself shot with the same gun I hope to use for the duration of this project.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2012

You selected

Pledge $500 or more

2 backers
Limited (8 left of 10)

You will receive a hand written thank you note on a individualized postcard that will have an image of one man from Targeted, the zine, and a 16 x 20 inch edition print of a portrait of myself shot with the same gun I hope to use for the duration of this project.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2012

You selected

Pledge $1,500 or more

0 backers
Limited (5 left of 5)

You will receive a hand written thank you note on a individualized postcard that will have an image of one man from Targeted, the zine, AND I will take a portrait of you to then be shot among the other portraits, so you can have your own individual piece.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2012

Funding period

Aug 17, 2011 - Sep 30, 2011
(44 days)

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